House and Garden 
services of a skilled Japanese gardener were 
secured, one whose work was already well and 
favorably known. The hrst difficulty encountered 
was to find proper rocks; not quarry stone, hut 
large, natural weather-beaten moss-grown surface 
rocks, and the larger the better. During a trip 
along Darby Creek, a mile or so away, we found 
exactly the required stone, hut in very inaccessible 
places, difficult to approach by wagon. A stone 
contractor was consulted and the difficulties left 
to him. Very soon load after load of stone began 
to arrive until it seemed as though sufficient stone 
had been brought to build a house. These were 
O 
brought in the winter because easier to remove 
while the ground was frozen and also to be ready 
in the early spring. 
It was astonishing how many rocks were used 
and how quickly the supply became exhausted, 
with cries for more. The arrangement of the 
rocks is most ingenious for the benefit of planting 
and artistic as to appearance. Each rock is set up 
so there is always a cavity of soil without stone 
bottom thus allowing the roots of the plants to 
grow deep into the earth for moisture. 
The ponds were excavated in the usual manner, 
the surplus dirt used for making the miniature 
mountains. The large pond has clay bottom 
with sides of brick set in cement, grouted between 
the bricks and dirt sides. This grouting not only 
strengthens the walls but also fills in any existing 
leaks. The most irritating and troublesome part 
of any garden is a leaky pond, 
and unless the pond is prop¬ 
erly made it will surely leak 
and prove a continuous annoy¬ 
ance while if constructed prop¬ 
erly will be one of the most 
satisfactory and satisfying 
features. After the pond is 
once planted with water lilies, 
lotus, and the smaller aquat¬ 
ics, a charming succession of 
beautiful bloom is assured, 
provided the plants have very 
rich soil, for water plants re¬ 
quire liberal nourishment as 
much as they need water. It 
is better to have the soil and 
cow manure well mixed two 
or three weeks before re¬ 
quired, although if not con- 
V e n i e n t it may he done 
when needed without much 
fear of burning the roots, 
provided the boxes are at 
once put in the water. The 
four simple rules for a suc¬ 
cessful water garden are; 
A tight pond. 
Avoid overcrowding. 
Warm water. 
Very rich soil. 
A continued apology during the entire work calls 
our attention to the new appearance of the work 
WHERE THE TWO BRIDGES JOIN 
THE UPPER FLIGHT OF STEPS 
66 
